Heartbreak for Christian Wilkins as his acting ambitions hit a snag after the nepo baby moved to Los Angeles amid SAG strike
The son of Australian showbiz guru Richard Wilkins has had his dreams of becoming a famous actor crushed, months after moving to Los Angeles.
Christian Wilkins, 28, moved to tinseltown in April to pursue acting, but has been struggling to find work due to the SAG-AFRTA strike that has brought Hollywood to a standstill.
It is likely a huge disappointment for Christian, whose connection to his father previously helped him pave a modelling and reality TV career back home.
Instead, Christian has joined the strike himself, having recently attended a protest with Australian actor Luke Cook outside Netflix headquarters.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph during the demonstration, Christian said: ‘It definitely wouldn’t have been my choice example of a time to move here but it is also kind of amazing to be here and see how the community has banded together.’
Christian Wilkins, 28, moved to tinseltown in April to pursue acting, but has been struggling to find work due to the SAG-AFRTA strike that has brought Hollywood to a standstill. Christian has joined the strike himself, having recently attended a protest with Australian actor Luke Cook outside Netflix headquarters. (L-R: Kara Cook, Christian Wilkins, Andi Lew, Luke Cook, Jonathon Moran)
‘It really has fortified my interest in it and my love and passion for acting.’
Christian also said he hopes the strikes will inspire Australian actors and writers to ‘stand up’ for themselves back home.
Dynasty star Luke Cook, who recently made headlines for revealing his incredibly low pay, meanwhile told the publication that the strike may drag on until March next year.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph during the demonstration, Christian said: ‘It definitely wouldn’t have been my choice example of a time to move here but it is also kind of amazing to be here and see how the community has banded together’
He attended the protest with his stylist wife Kara, who warned that the impact of the strike would also impact the careers of those hired to make celebrities look glamorous, including makeup artists and fashion designers.
The The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced officially voted for a work stoppage earlier this month, with 160,000 actors downing tools.
Talks with studios had ended without a deal, paving the way for a vote on the first actors strike in more than four decades.
Christian’s connection to his showbiz guru father Richard (right) previously helped him pave a modelling and reality TV career back home
Dynasty star Luke Cook (pictured), who recently made headlines for revealing his incredibly low pay , meanwhile told the publication that the strike may drag on until March next year
The union had sought to address dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence.
It is demanding higher pay to counteract inflation, and guarantees for their future livelihoods.
In addition to salaries when they are actively working, actors earn payments called ‘residuals’ every time a film or show they starred in is aired on network or cable — which is particularly helpful when performers are between projects.
Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, and SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland announced the union would strike earlier this month
But today, streamers like Netflix and Disney+ do not disclose viewing figures for their shows, and offer the same flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of its popularity.
Muddying the waters further is the issue of AI.
The union was seeking ‘a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.’ Actors are worried that their digital images could be used without their permission or proper compensation.
Members of the Guild are seen protesting at The Walt Disney Studios on July 13
